LKIM: Fish Supplies Expected To Remain Stable During Monsoon Season

KOTA BHARU, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- The Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) anticipates that the northeast monsoon season will not severely affect fish supplies, particularly in Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu.

Its chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said LKIM has not received any reports from fishermen’s associations in the states of fishermen being unable to go to sea due to rough sea conditions.

“The East Coast states experienced floods in October last year, but this year the weather has been generally good, with only occasional rain, mainly in the afternoons.

“Based on information received so far, all types of boats, including Class A on the west coast, as well as Classes B, C and C2, and coastal fishermen are still able to go out to sea,” he said.

He said this to reporters after attending the “Majlis Ramah Mesra MADANI” with the Kota Bharu fishing community, held in conjunction with the launch of the Portable Container System (PCS) by the Kota Bharu Area Fishermen's Association at Petron PCS, Kuala Besar, today.

Muhammad Faiz said that, although fish supplies are not expected to be severely affected, LKIM is taking the necessary measures to prepare for any eventualities during the monsoon season.

He said the measures include placing 116.78 tonnes of QFISH supply in five storage facilities nationwide, each of which can last between three and six months.

“The supply stands at 12.50 tonnes at the National Fishermen's Association (Nekmat) headquarters, 0.92 tonnes at the Terengganu Fishermen’s Association, 1.10 tonnes at the Selangor Fishermen’s Association, 3.76 tonnes at the Sarawak Fishermen’s Association, and 98.50 tonnes at the Besut Area Fishermen’s Association

“Based on the data, overall fish landings in the country increased by 1.5 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year. Kelantan recorded the highest increase of 29 per cent, followed by Melaka at 23.3 per cent and Perlis at 18.5 per cent,” he added.

--BERNAMA